I have one of the best jobs on the planet! For almost ten years, I have been involved in the arts as a student, working in sales and marketing for major art organizations, and as an independent filmmaker starting up my own production company.  For me, business and art have been the foundation of my professional career. 

While at the Playhouse, I was the Group Sales and Facility Rentals Manager.  I was a department of one.  My time at the Playhouse was the best on-the-job training I could ever have: I learned how to market to various niches, create a budget, analyzed sales cycles, network, and much more. The skills I developed were in the context of an arts organization.  During that time, I knew the skills I was honing would serve me well. 

Little did I know these skills would serve others too.

Six weeks ago I joined the Fine Arts Fund as the new Manager of Multicultural Arts Initiatives.  The reason why I feel I have one of the best jobs on the planet is because I am using my skills to assist five small arts organizations to become more sustainable and self-reliant.  

To accomplish this goal, accelerator support from the Fine Arts Fund has been given in three parts: restricted operating funds, technical support and partnerships. With direct funding, all five organizations are now able to hire staff to either focus on fundraising, marketing or to fill the position of Executive Director.

I provide the technical support.  For the organizations, my role is very much like a coach.  Through an assessment process, I have determined their areas of strength, growth and opportunity. I monitor their progress, give assistance when needed, and provide feedback when necessary, and sometimes an ear to bend.  Each organization is unique and has distinct needs.  For instance, one organization has a large volunteer base, but needs to develop their board, while another organization requires more assistance with their marketing but has a strong board. I design my support around their needs. Additionally, we are providing workshops once a month.  The workshops range from how to write a business plan to how to use social media.

Partnership is the final component of the program.  The five organizations are encouraged to collaborate not only with each other, but to also find other organizations to share ideas, programs, and resources.

The five organizations I work with are ballet tech, Bi-Okoto, Cincinnati Black Theater Company, Elementz and Eye of the Artist.  They all have been given a fantastic opportunity to elevate themselves to the next level.  Despite the injection of funds, my support and various workshops, there is one final ingredient that is missing though. 

You, the theater, dance, music and visual art lover. For true sustainability, the organizations need your support as well.   Go to their performances, volunteer your time, donate a few bucks, and let them know how much you appreciate what they do and how they contribute to the community.

Learn more about these groups: do an on-line search for their websites.  Each site has a description of their art form, calendar of events, a donation button and a volunteer sign up.  You will be glad you did.

I love food.  I will read cookbooks from cover to cover in one sitting. My great-grandmother, Mama Vina, was a phenomenal cook. I remember waking up from afternoon naps to the sounds of wooden spoons banging against the sides of metal pans and the smell of the evening dinner wafting from the kitchen.  I can still remember the tastes and aroma of her food.  My mouth is watering now just remembering the taste of her beans, chicken and vegetable soup, sweet potato empanadas, chicken in mole sauce, and countless other dishes.

I've lived in OTR for five years.  In these five years something wonderful has happened.  More restaurants are opening up or staying open longer.  In the last few years, Lavomatic, Mixx, and It's Just Crepes have opened up.  Coffee Emporium has extended its hours to include weekends.  Additionally, the old tried and true are still going strong. For instance, Graeter's is now on Fountain Square and Yum-Yum on Race Street is still serving up the best authentic Chinese food in town.

Outside of downtown, there are culinary treasures as well.  Last weekend I had the pleasure of dining at an Ethiopian restaurant for the first time in Pleasant Ridge.  My friends and I ate out the same platter using flat bread instead of forks.  It was so much fun!  Another favorite spot of mine is Ferrari's in Madeira. The seafood stuffed shells is my favorite dish. I order it every time I go. 

Every week I try to make it down to Mixx.  It quickly became one of my favorite spots. Tron and the servers who have been there for a while all know my usual. I have told Tron on a number of occasions, he is one of the only men in my life who has never disappointed.  He knows what I want and how I like it.

Soon a new restaurant in going to open up in the Gateway corridor and I'll be one of the first to try it out.  Cincinnati has come a long way with restaurants and culinary sophistication.  I'm always looking forward to try new restaurants and support the mom and pops. However, I'm still looking for a really good Mexican restaurant. A few have come close, but the food just doesn't compare to my Mama Vina.

Baltimore has John Waters.  Houston has Robert Rodriquez.  Cincinnati has - well, uhm.

In this city, which has such a rich history and support of art in all of its forms, independent filmmaking seems to be forgotten most of the time. An argument could be made that we do have big budget, Hollywood productions like Traffic film in the city. In fact as I write this, Disney is filming at Churchill Downs in Kentucky, which is down the road a bit. Yes, those types of productions certainly give the city and the region some bragging rights, but who among the local crews are working on these big budget productions?  And how often?

Not many and very rarely.

The companies that come into town will often bring their key production talent like the producers, the director, the director of photography and the like, while the local talent is left unemployed.  The hotels and restaurants are the biggest benefactors of a Hollywood film, not the local filmmaking industry.

For a filmmaker, this region has the potential to be phenomenal to set up shop because of the diversity in location types, general costs and skills of the local crew.   The locations vary from gritty, eclectic urban to small town Americana in a matter of minutes.  And Cincinnati has neighborhoods that have distinct looks and flavors.

A few years ago, I was hired to be a Line Producer and Production Manager for an indie film, which was filmed mostly in Jungle Jim's.  The Executive Producer told me repeatedly if they had to do this film in LA, it would easily cost them $500,000.  However, by shooting here, the budget was only $100,000. The general cost of equipment rental and space is less expensive than in larger markets. 

In my view, for this region to become competitive in the global filmmaking market, supporting the local talent pool not only make sense but is long over due.  By support, I suggest viewing indie films at film festivals such as Underneath Cincinnati and the Fringe Festival, and by monetarily investing in projects. There are very little resources for the indie artist.  Generally speaking, when a filmmaker self-finances a project, they often max out credit cards, take out a second mortgage or take on a second job.  How is this a viable model to perpetuate the art form and drive the artist to create more?

About 10 years ago a group of filmmakers started Southern Ohio Filmmakers Association. Today, SOFA is a 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to serve and develop the greater Cincinnati regional filmmaking community.  SOFA is well known within the film community, but not at all known outside of the community.

I encourage anyone who loves cinema and loves this city so much that they want to see it on the big silver screen, to become a member for $20 and/or a sponsor. You don't have to be a filmmaker to be member. With a membership you receive discounts to indie film events such as Underneath Cincinnati and screenings. To become involved in the local film community, visit SOFA's site and become a member or sponsor.